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I don't think I was particularly worried about anything, I was excited to be off on an adventure. No real planning other than to arrive in France.As we head into Camino season for a new batch of pilgrims, we are seeing the usual levels of anxiety that accompany first time pilgrims about to step into the unknown. So, to complement all of the usual "What do you wish you had packed?" or "What do I need to remember to do before setting out?" or "Which is really better, shoes or boots, water bottle or water bladder, rain jacket or poncho, hiking poles or no hiking poles, etc. etc. etc.?" posts, here is another question.
Looking back on your first Camino, what is the thing you most wish you had worried less about?
Only NINE days till I get on the plane headed 19,100 km north (& west)...Sixteen days before I get on a plane headed 19,100km north! I'm a little worried about all sorts of little things, and I'm sure "once I get there" my worries will evaporate.
However, I'm glad I've done a little research. Knowing not to touch the fluffy caterpillars - kinda handy. I know that the cattle in Spain look like bulls, but are generally cows. I'm prepared, and now I probably won't die of fright!
I've seen them on other people's videos. There's something toxic about them, but they're fluffy and I guess some people may be tempted to touch them.Only NINE days till I get on the plane headed 19,100 km north (& west)...
What fluffy caterpillars??!!
Buen Camino fellow Kiwi - hope your adventure is fantastic!!I've seen them on other people's videos. There's something toxic about them, but they're fluffy and I guess some people may be tempted to touch them.
You're a wee bit ahead of me, so if we don't cross paths, buen Camino!
Oak processionary caterpillarsOnly NINE days till I get on the plane headed 19,100 km north (& west)...
What fluffy caterpillars??!!
Though just to be even more annoying in Spain they are mostly associated with pine trees rather than oak.Oak processionary caterpillars
Sadly this confirms my worry that they are increasingly becoming an issue in Southern Europe because of climate change.Though just to be even more annoying in Spain they are mostly associated with pine trees rather than oak.
There was a Spanish government warning that they were emerging earlier than usual this year.
Emergence of Processionary Caterpillars
The emergence of processionary caterpillars in early spring has prompted warnings from the Spanish government due to the early presence of these pests.euroweeklynews.com
I do not know if there is a national plan for dealing with them. Individual local councils sometimes have dedicated email addresses for reporting.Do you know what the correct course of action is in Spain / Portugal if you encounter them? In Germany you are meant to take a GPS reading of the affected tree and contact local authorities.
We had something like that in Australia... I learned to be careful of such things, 'cause in Oz, everything will kill you.Oak processionary caterpillars
Their little “hairs” are venomous and can cause skin irritations and trigger asthma attacks in people susceptible for that. If you see them (they are easy to spot even from a distance) avoid that area.
I don’t think that they are a big problem in Spain though because there, natural predators remain. They can be a huge pest in Northern Europe though.
I always recommend to new walkers to remove all polish from toes as I believe your toenails need the air as much as any other part of the body and having polish is a quicker way to lose a nail as nails can come quite brittle in shoes and socks 10hrs a day for 35 days. Just saying!Silly now, but I worried that people would think my feet were unattractive in my sandals since I don't wear nail polish on my toenails. I think I even made a post about.
I try to remember that now when I respond to others and help them feel more at ease.
Exactly ; until you get there your reliant on somebody else making decisions that could screw up your trip!The only thing that really concerned me the first time were the logistics of getting to the "start line". Friends had told me that after that, everything would just unfold as it should. They were right.
What time of the year were you walking?I don't think I was particularly worried about anything, I was excited to be off on an adventure. No real planning other than to arrive in France.
Once I reached Bayonne, it was a different story - the heat was so intense that I did wonder if I would cope with it.
I did - I became an early starter.
this is great! but what was your final conclusion? which of these things were worth worrying about and which were not?Aha! David- great question. My pre-first camino worries -
Worry #1: How difficult (physically) will the path be? I don't think I can walk 25km /day (I can and I did).
Worry #2: How much do I need to "train"? What type of training? Am I doing enough? What if I'm not?
Worry #3: Transportation (how to get from wherever I am to where I want to go). How to access train plane, and bus schedules. Where, exactly, are the train and bus stations?
Worry #4: Weather (OMG I was right to be worried!!!!) What to expect regarding heat/cold/wind/storms, etc.
Worry #5: As a solo traveler - Will I meet others? Will I be accepted? What are the social norms?
Worry #6: As a female solo traveler: Will I be safe? If I dont feel safe who do I turn to? How do I contact the police? How responsive are they?
Worry #7: What if I become ill? How do I access healthcare in Spain? Do I need medical travel insurance?
In what order do I walk thru the villages? Why are the names of the villages/cities different depending upon the information source I use?
Where is "Pony"? "Queen's Bridge"? "Plum"? "Gares"? "The Arches"? "Sucker"? "Thorny Road"?
A concern but not really a worry - gear and clothing
10 hours walking a day!I always recommend to new walkers to remove all polish from toes as I believe your toenails need the air as much as any other part of the body and having polish is a quicker way to lose a nail as nails can come quite brittle in shoes and socks 10hrs a day for 35 days. Just saying!
never worried about anything really. Most of my worrying was the year before when my youngest son went on his. By the time he came home I knew there was nothing to worry aboutAs we head into Camino season for a new batch of pilgrims, we are seeing the usual levels of anxiety that accompany first time pilgrims about to step into the unknown. So, to complement all of the usual "What do you wish you had packed?" or "What do I need to remember to do before setting out?" or "Which is really better, shoes or boots, water bottle or water bladder, rain jacket or poncho, hiking poles or no hiking poles, etc. etc. etc.?" posts, here is another question.
Looking back on your first Camino, what is the thing you most wish you had worried less about?
I saw some in Pamplona on Tuesday.Oak processionary caterpillars
Their little “hairs” are venomous and can cause skin irritations and trigger asthma attacks in people susceptible for that. If you see them (they are easy to spot even from a distance) avoid that area.
I don’t think that they are a big problem in Spain though because there, natural predators remain. They can be a huge pest in Northern Europe though.
As we head into Camino season for a new batch of pilgrims, we are seeing the usual levels of anxiety that accompany first time pilgrims about to step into the unknown. So, to complement all of the usual "What do you wish you had packed?" or "What do I need to remember to do before setting out?" or "Which is really better, shoes or boots, water bottle or water bladder, rain jacket or poncho, hiking poles or no hiking poles, etc. etc. etc.?" posts, here is another question.
Looking back on your first Camino, what is the thing you most wish you had worried less about?
I am loving your cow story thank you. A few squeals from me (over the milking cows with horns!) I didn’t worry beforehand but when confronted I worried what to do if they charged at me!! Fortunately it ended well when they walked on by.Sixteen days before I get on a plane headed 19,100km north! I'm a little worried about all sorts of little things, and I'm sure "once I get there" my worries will evaporate.
However, I'm glad I've done a little research. Knowing not to touch the fluffy caterpillars - kinda handy. I know that the cattle in Spain look like bulls, but are generally cows. I'm prepared, and now I probably won't die of fright!
Those don't look fluffy to me at all. But thanks for the tip - and the pic!Oak processionary caterpillars
Their little “hairs” are venomous and can cause skin irritations and trigger asthma attacks in people susceptible for that. If you see them (they are easy to spot even from a distance) avoid that area.
I don’t think that they are a big problem in Spain though because there, natural predators remain. They can be a huge pest in Northern Europe though.
I thought I was 'match-fit' when I started the Camino Frances back in 2016. . . Then the Pyrenees happened. . . it turned out having a bed booked at Orisson was the most important decision of the whole 6-week Camino.I wish I had listened to my gut and kept my booking at Orisson and NOT listened to the hospitalero in SJPP. .He very strongly suggested we cancel Orisson, telling us "You can walk all the way to Roncesvalles, it's EASY!" I cursed that guy's name all the way into Roncesvalles, as I cried with every painful step. I had shin splints and it nearly ruined my entire Camino.
That's why I started this thread, as a counterbalance. There are lots of threads telling people what to worry about. I figured there was room for one with the opposite message: You don't need to worry so much!Most of the scary stuff I’d been reading on this site. Accommodation issues, blisters, bedbugs, distances, route issues, shoes, packweights, snoring and other albergue noises at night, medical facilities, went on and on. Left me fearful of a challenging ordeal which could threaten my very survival. It turned out just to be a long walk carrying a pack and much less of a challenge than the daily walks/ runs I’d been doing for years.
De Colores
Bogong
All were worth consideration, but none were worth worry or rumination. It all unfolded organically, without worry. Not always comfortable, mind you. But definitely a feeling of being in the river of life - with boulders and waterfalls and still pools and rapids and whiffles and fishes. I could go on but I'll spare you the deluge.....this is great! but what was your final conclusion? which of these things were worth worrying about and which were not?
<hugs>I overthink, therefore I am…
Set off from SJPDP 1st Sept in the middle of a heatwave.What time of the year were you walking?
I honestly wish that I'd worried a bit more about my footwear. I bought a pair of low ankle boots, thought I'd broken them in enough, but by Puente la Reina, my heels looked like raw meat. Thankfully, there was Caminoteca back in Pamplona (which, unbelievably, is open on Sunday!!) and I switched to a pair of Salomon trainers and never looked back. Left my boots in the bin in front of the store. Other than that - I loved that I had no worries!As we head into Camino season for a new batch of pilgrims, we are seeing the usual levels of anxiety that accompany first time pilgrims about to step into the unknown. So, to complement all of the usual "What do you wish you had packed?" or "What do I need to remember to do before setting out?" or "Which is really better, shoes or boots, water bottle or water bladder, rain jacket or poncho, hiking poles or no hiking poles, etc. etc. etc.?" posts, here is another question.
Looking back on your first Camino, what is the thing you most wish you had worried less about?
And making sure the bed you return to is your own?Getting up to go to the toilet in the middle of the night in a packed Albergue.
Did this in October, it is a great Camino! Buen CaminoI worried too much about my health in relation to the Camino. ( I had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and triple heart bypass a couple of years before my first Camino [SJPDP - Santiago]).
Bizarrely, it was my heart issues that helped me discover the CF - I no longer felt comfortable doing exercise which raised my pulse rate really high, so hiking felt a good fit for me.
As a result of health worries, I probably overthought the whole thing. Needless to say, I had a fantastic time, met some great people, and saw some great places. I sometimes wish I had gone that first time with pretty much no planning, and just sort of allowed myself grow into the Camino. . . now, that would have been an adventure.
Next month, I embark on my 5th Camino ( Camino Ingles + Santiago- Finisterre- Muxia loop).
I still don't use luggage-transfer (pretty much out of vanity, and to prove I still can push myself a little).
I owe the Camino a lot.
See you on the trail
I should have just worried less. Spain and France are safe countries, the routes are mostly well trodden and not hyper difficult, the Caminos pass through enough villages and towns that you're not going to starve or die of exposure and you can buy most things you need (e.g. if you've forgotten or lost something). Having a plan of stages helps, but being prepared to be flexible once you start is important e.g. if the weather gets really bad, stop early for the night, or even get a lift to your destination...As we head into Camino season for a new batch of pilgrims, we are seeing the usual levels of anxiety that accompany first time pilgrims about to step into the unknown. So, to complement all of the usual "What do you wish you had packed?" or "What do I need to remember to do before setting out?" or "Which is really better, shoes or boots, water bottle or water bladder, rain jacket or poncho, hiking poles or no hiking poles, etc. etc. etc.?" posts, here is another question.
Looking back on your first Camino, what is the thing you most wish you had worried less about?
Yep. Many’s the time when we were full that we called other towns for lodging and/or transportation when we were full and it was getting late.Ah, but THAT's a thing new pilgrims should know -- the hostel keepers/volunteers know each other, they know the route, the know the conditions, and they know the worries we have... they are a great resource!
If you are looking for one, probably not.Will I have my epiphany?
And? Surely you're not going to leave us without telling us the name of this unicorn bra...?I haven’t read ALL the replies but I’m pretty sure nobody else had this worry: bras. I was obsessed with bras! I bought at least 5 different styles of bra before my Camino trying to find the perfect lightweight, quick dry, easy to take on/off, breathable bra. I did find a pretty good one. But no more bras for a while. My bra drawer overfloweth.
Buen Camino HBS60! I did get my passport pickpocketed once (not on the Camino) so I have carried it in a tiny, light, soft cloth security pouch under my shirt, which gave me less to worry about. Probably sweaty in hot weather but last week Sarria-SdC have been cool/mild.I overthink, therefore I am…
I haven’t done the Camino yet (it is planned for August 2024), but, having plenty of worries about it, maybe this is a good place to list them, so I can go back when (if?) I complete it to see how it pans out.
I hate flying, so I’m taking a direct flight from Miami in order to avoid making connections. Just one take-off and landing is all I can handle.
Being that I’m in FL, I worry about a hurricane resulting in canceling my flight. Notice that I don’t worry about hurricanes themselves, as I’ve been through lots of them, no biggie for me, but cancelation? That would mess up my timetable, because the dates are not negotiable.
I worry about the whole process of clearing customs, and something going wrong. My international travel experience is very limited, and it’s been a while, so lots of things may have changed.
I fear being pickpocketed and losing my US passport, what do I do then? I would be upset if a thief steals my money, everything, but my US passport? Not an unfounded worry since a friend I was traveling with years ago was pickpocketed in the Madrid Metro of all places, within 20 minutes of arrival, fortunately, I found the wallet with only the money missing, the passport and everything else was there, but it was a very unpleasant experience. What if this happens in the middle of nowhere, like the Meseta, who can help me then?
I worry about the river crossing somewhere between Espinal and Zubiri, I’ve seen many videos of pilgrims walking on these huge blocks over the water, I fear my balance is not the greatest. Is there an alternate place to cross?
I fear strange, unfamiliar foods, definitely not a foodie. I’m fine with meat, potatoes, chicken, pork, but that’s about it. I’m allergic to seafood so that’s out for me.
I worry about my cPAP machine being damaged either from rain water, a fall, etc, how to fix it/repair it?
I worry about not being able to stick to my timeline. August 11 and September 11 are extremely important dates for me. I think I should be able to start my walk in August 11 in SJPDP (unless a hurricane or some other event cancels my flight, or some calamity when clearing customs). September 11 is an important day of mourning for me (not because of the American 9/11 tragedy, for because of a more personal loss. where I will be on Sept 11? Originally, I planned to be in SDC, but that may not be realistic, my alternate plan is to be at Cruz de Ferro in that date. What if I cant’ time it adequately? I want to know of any place of significance where I can do my mourning on September 11. If I make it to CDF in time, I hope to make it to Santiago by September 22, thus starting a new season in my life at the Pilgrims Mass. What options should I entertain if this doesn’t pan out?
I’m worried (just a little) about things from my life come back to haunt me.
I worry about how I’ll get back to Madrid to catch my flight back home.
I know these are all solvable issues, nothing here is impossible to get through, and there’s plenty of help here from experienced Peregrinos.
I’ll mention things I’m NOT worried about:
I don’t care if I wind up sleeping on the steps of some church because I couldnt’ find an albergue. I don’t care if I get soaked in rain. (I do worry about being caught in a thunderstorm). I certainly won’t enjoy being in the rain, but I don’t worry about it.
I don’t care if I get blisters, twist an ankle, get sunburned, etc. Certainly not pleasant, but I do feel more confident that I can deal with those things if/when they happen.
I don’t worry about overpacking, being that I can always mail excess crap to SDC for me to pick up at the end.
I’m not worried about the societal aspects of it. I’m fine with spending time alone, even feeling lonely, and although I can be shy, with the right crowd can socialize pretty well. I’m a native Spanish speaker, which helps a lot, and I can always help fellow Peregrinos if needed.
Well, that’s about it for now! I hope i remember this post in late September so I can check and see if despite my having known so many troubles, many of them didn’t actually happen (apologies to Mark Twain).
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